FLINT TWP. — Residents and business owners who don’t want solicitors knocking on their door may soon be able to sign up for a prohibited list kept by the township clerk.
An amendment to the township’s ordinance dealing with peddlers and solicitors licenses passed first reading at the June 2 board meeting and is due for second reading an adoption at the township board’s June 16 meeting.
After getting ongoing complaints about doorto door sales, the board is moving to update its ordinance. New provisions state that “the clerk shall keep on file a list of the addresses of those person that do not want solicitors to enter or call upon their residence and/or place of business.”
That list will be supplied to all future solicitors. Anyone wanting to be added to the list must notify the clerk in writing.
Assuming the amendment is adopted after its second reading, the new ordinance should take effect as of June 30.
Other changes to the ordinance include requirements an applicant must meet to get a license and reasons the clerk might not approve it. Requirements such as supplying fingerprints and photographs of solicitors remain in effect.
Language also has been added specifying three months as the maximum amount of time for a licensee. It also sets hours of soliciting from 10 am. to 6 p.m.
Exemptions also have been tweaked. The new language exempts the following groups from the ordinance:
1) Persons engaged in the distribution of newspapers.
(2) Persons engaged in soliciting within one (1) mile from their residence for an educational, charitable, and religious or youth organizations.
(3) Persons engaged in noncommercial, religious canvassing.
(4) Persons engaged in the distribution of hand bills, signed or unsigned, political or otherwise.
The existing ordinance more specifically stated that exempted groups included church and social functions of the township, scout- and school-related fundraisers, 4-H Club activities and all other nonprofit fund promotion activities.
Another new section of “prohibited activities’’ includes fixed stands on public property unless rented from the township of Genesee County Road Commission; soliciting in obstructive areas such as streets, alleys, sidewalks s or driveways; curb service; on private property without permission; and harassment of issuing threats in the course of soliciting.
The rest of the ordinance remains unchanged. It can viewed in its entirety on the township website under ordnances. The amended ordinance is also posted on the township website news page for review.
“It is an excellent ordinance and I think it will work,’’ said Trustee Frank Kasle.
Trustee Belenda Parker said she would like to see language added specifying that solicitors must wear identification.
Leave a Reply